THE organisers of the annual Pennsylvania Relay Carnival and the University of Technology (UTech) are discussing ways to forge a partnership in which Jamaican students can benefit from the experience of programmes at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

Montreal Olympic Games 4x400m relay gold medallist and former United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Vice-president Hernan Frazier made the revelation to the Jamaica Observer at last weekend’s UTech Classic athletics meeting for which he was patron.

“We’re looking at some things, in collaboration, that we can do with them as far as management and some other things; where we can have students from Jamaica come to Penn and pick up on some other things that’s going on at the University of Pennsylvania,” Frazier said.

Frazier is also referee for the track and field events at the meet at which hundreds of Jamaican student athletes participate each year. The former quarter-miler is a member of the board of “Friends of the Relay” which raises money to keep the meet going annually.

Frazier, who is also on the Penn Relays Wall of Fame, said the event, held at the university’s Franklin Field each year, was forever indebted to Jamaica.

“For not only bringing wonderful high school kids, but also for all the wonderful Olympians that have run in that meet over the years,” he said.

“The success of your high school and collegiate athletes, the last five to seven years, has really forged a great relationship between the University of Pennsylvania,” he continued.

Frazier also won a bronze medal in the 400m at the Montreal Games and later ran against Jamaican star quarter-miler Bert Cameron.

Over the 30 years, he has seen some of the best Jamaican athletes in action, including 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt, — the first time sprint sensation competed at the relays.

“When people look at the population of your country and the size of the island, for you to have so many very competitive successful runners they’re trying to find out what are you doing here, and so I think Jamaica has a story to tell because when you look at the size of our country where I’m from obviously we don’t have as many people who run just as fast as Usain Bolt,” said the former athlete.

“It’s very obvious you have good coaching over here. Tonight’s (Saturday’s) meet and what you’re doing here is only going to be helpful for all those other things you have going forward,” he added.

Frazier said he had seen the Penn Relays morph, over the years, from a meet which was primarily for college and university athletes into one that was a major stage for high school athletes.

“Now the high schools and obviously the USA versus The World are just as competitive as the colleges used to be. Also the impact it has on spectators, because now you’ll get 140,000-145,000 people over a three-day period which is incredible as well.”